US labour market holds firm as weekly lay-offs tumble to 57-year low

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment slipped to a 57-year last week as lay-offs remained low against the backdrop of a resilient labour market. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 189,000 for the week ended October 31, the Labour Department ‌said on Thursday.

Economists had forecast 196,000 claims for the latest week. Claims matched the 189,000 level touched in mid-July, which was the lowest reading since 1969.

They have stayed...